TIRUPATI: The TTD’s Kalyanamandapams complex gleamed with saffron as a huge contingent of some 1,000 sadhus and sants, besides heads of leading mutts and peethas from all over southern India, converged at the venue for the two-day conclave of the VHP’s `Dharma Sansad’.
The entire TTD complex housing four kalyanamandapams has been taken over by the VHP and its other frontal organisations for the event.
On a massive stage with portraits of VHP leaders providing the backdrop, about 30 heads of different mutts and peethas were seated even as Ashok Singhal and Pravin Togadia — the leading lights of the VHP — sat through all the sessions evincing keen interest in the proceedings.
As the summit adopted a resolution and put it to the sadhus and sants for approval, they conveyed their response with the `Jai Sriram’ slogan.
Traditionally dressed
Sadhus belonging to all the three major denominations — Dwaitha, Advaitha and Visisthadwaitha — turned out in their traditional saffron attire. Some of them were seen carrying tridents while others had the traditional `tridanda’ in their hands.
In an interesting sidelight, the head of the Vyasasramam, near Srikalahasti, showered Rs.50 currency notes on Ashok Singhal in acknowledgement of his service for the cause of VHP and called him the `Hindu Kesari’ (lion).
